Hello –
I am just looking into buying/selling stock and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on a good user friendly website along with low commissions when buying and selling. It will all be somewhat new to me so looking for some advice. Thanks in advance!
Chad
A lot depends on what you’re selling and at what volume. You can pretty easily create your own paypal based site and do all your finances and shipping through there. Ebay is getting to be more and more expensive (especially for low value items). Craigslist isn’t recurring so that can be a lot of work.
Maybe an idea of what you’re selling will help.
I know a former co worker who used to day trade using Wells Fargo.
I don’t consider myself a day trader, but I use Wells Fargo. But you have to qualify for their PMA accounts to make it economical. 100 free trades a year with a PMA account, otherwise it is $20 per trade.
Stock, duh. Sorry about that.
My stock purchase program at work goes through Fidelity so I now use that as my primary brokerage account. I think I pay around $10 a trade when I do go in and make a trade. I think there are probably a few cheaper ones out there closer to $6 or $7 a trade. However, I have never had a problem with Fidelity. Anytime I call, I get a human body to talk to pretty quickly and all other orders are an easy click of the mouse, as is getting money in and out of my account. Just have to typically wait on the T+3 timeframe.
Not an expert by any means, but I use Charles Schwab. The fees are 8.95 per trade and always have access for questions by phone that have been very helpful.
The screens to buy and sell stocks are very user simple to use.
Tracking you trades and positions is also very easy.
With Schwab you can go to their office in the twin cities or Rochester for any help or questions.
Good luck
My whole family uses Scottrade. I absolutely love them! They will give you as much or as little help as you want without huge fees.
check out optionshouse .com
2X Scottrade 
I use sharebuilder and have used Zecco in the past.
Sharebuilder works well for retirement accounts as not only are the real time trades 7.95 per trade but you can set up automatic investments for $4 per trade. There are also free reinvestment of dividends and capitals gains.
Zecco I believe is $4.95 per trade and if you have over $25k you get 20 trades free per month, I believe.
I have only used Zecco to buy some limited amounts of stock.
The difference in most of the online brokerages is the customer service, features, or tools available to you. Basically you get what you pay for.
Zecco is/was pretty low frills and has inexpensive trades.
The majority of the sites you see advertised on TV are probably middle of the road – Scottrade, Etrade, etc. Pay a little more but have more tools.
Little higher end would be Charles Schwab, etc… where you can actually go into one of their branches and talk to someone if you have to.
I’ve had no problem with my Zecco account.
Sounds like we need a Stock Group. 
I’ve been with Scottrade for years and have been happy with their service. They are $7 per trade and have local offices that you can visit as well. When you open an account you are given the contact information for the local office that would service your account should you need assistance.
I also use Firstrade. They sit at $6.95 per trade. I use them because they offer free dividend re-investment. I haven’t been with them as long, but have had no problems. In the end, I prefer Scottrade because of the fact that if I need to speak with someone in person, I can.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
